19/11/21
I have seen mention of “dryer balls” in stitching groups I belong to, but did not know what they were until I came across some in a shop recently. This is what they are for, ostensibly ……
but any textile artist will see them as the perfect base for decorating.
I spent an enjoyable few evenings stitching on the first one….
I posted it in a Facebook group for Stitch Meditations and someone said I should join another group called
“Fabulous Scrappy Balls”, which I did.
I decided to make my first scrappy ball from the collection of scraps that had collected at the foot of my overlocker/serger sewing machine, the debris left over from making scarves.
I built the ball by from the strips of fabric, but it made me a bit sad to cover up the nice bits in the layers underneath.
And then, to make matters worse, I went a bit over the top wrapping it in thread and as good as obliterated the top layer anyway.
Most unsatisfactory.
For my 2nd go I used the less interesting scraps to build the ball, saving the more exciting bits for the outer layer, and I secured them with a few stitches , leaving more fabric visible. This one felt better, I felt I had somehow honoured the scraps. That is the scraps that would have otherwise sat in a bag until I die and then got binned .
3rd go, I used a strip that had been had been machine stitched to join 2 bits of fabric together, and I had saved , for some reason, maybe this reason?
This time I was happy that I’d preserved the intrinsic beauty of the scraps.
And I’d managed to use 2 odd socks from my large bag of odd socks to build the ball inside.
Win win.
Today I made my 4th ball, I made the centre by stuffing another odd sock with sacrificial scraps …
I then covered the sock with the innards from a neck tie
I chose some bits from my enormobag of scrappage, including some of my favourite Kaffe Fassett fabric ..
I pinned the strips of fabric in place
and then I stitched to secure the fabric.
Pleased with this one, although I think now I should have chosen black thread instead of white.
I asked members of the “Fabulous Scrappy Balls” group if I could share photos of their balls, and some of them said yes.
This embroidered ball became a pin cushion 🙂
The wonderful balls below were made by Gae Sharp-Richardson, you can see more of her work here
https://www.instagram.com/gaesharprichardson
There was a discussion in the Facebook group about what we would do with all of the fabulous balls we were making.
Gae said ………………..
“My son is instructed to take them all to my funeral (I’m hoping that it’s a ways off…) and everyone who comes gets to pick out a ball to take home with them. The rest will be buried with me.”
This made me laugh, and I am going to adopt the same plan for all of the things I have and will make that I don’t know what to do with.
A textile artist that I have long admired is Anne Marie Desaulniers, you can see more of her work here…
https://www.instagram.com/amd_artfuldreamer/
Anne Marie has been making “Embellished Orbs” using dryer balls, and they are wonderful, I love the colors she uses, her stitching and her beading…
She also made one completely encrusted with beads and buttons, a lot of hours work went into this, but a great result!
24/11/21
Since starting writing this blogpost I have finished another ball, this time I went big, 10 odd socks big! It’s a good feeling to make use of those lonely, holey socks, and it gives me more room to add scraps.
All 12 photos are of the same scrappy ball……..
Here’s my collection of scrappy balls so far, I wonder how big, or how scrappy I can go?
Tune in next time to find out!
You are amazing, love it!!!
Thank you for reading it Donna 🙂
Fabulous. Thanks for including mine. Great story.
Sisters in scrap.
Corrine
You’re welcome Corrine, one big scrappy family 🙂
Holey Baubles, I want me some of those woolly tumblers! Glorious stitchification as always xx
Home Bargains bargain : quid each!
So exciting to see all of these amazing endeavors! Great job in putting it together.
Thank you so much for including some of my pieces.
Thank you Claudia, don’t they make a fantastic spread!
What a fantastic blog!
… I wonder if they could be transformed into Christmas tree decorations?
There’s definitely a book in all this somewhere.
Maybe even a film!
he he he
ho ho ho
I just love this idea! I have so much scrap that I can’t bear to throw away, and this is a new (to me) idea with wonderful combination of colours and textures. I hope I can find some of the drier balls in Ireland!
Or roll up your odd socks! I bought some balls in Home Bargains online….
https://www.homebargains.co.uk/products/9546-wooly-tumblers-dryer-balls.aspx
These are just wonderful and I have SO many scraps. I can’t wait to get started. I also have loads of bits of jewellery, so I will use that definitely. Thank you for the inspiration.
You are most welcome, have fun!
These are just wonderful and I have SO many scraps. I can’t wait to get started. I also have loads of bits of jewellery, so I will use that definitely. Thank you for the inspiration.
All the Scrappy Balls are spectacular! Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks for reading about them 🙂
These are great, just might do some
Go for it, they are fun!
These caught my eye they are beautiful and what an amazing gallery from so many peeps 💛
Can you tell me how you stitch into the balls – is it just below surface level? What needles do you use? Is there a tutorial? I literally woke up saw these beauties and before having a cuppa arrived here lol 🙀
Thank you Lorraine, I’m glad you enjoyed my post 🙂 I use a long strong needle that is meant for doll making. I don’t have a tutorial, but there are instructions on how to make the balls in a facebook group I belong to
https://www.facebook.com/groups/618419439588395
Maravilhosas! Agradeço por compartilhar como são feitas, vou me aventurar a fazer.
tranlation into English “Wonderful! Thank you for sharing how they are made, I will venture to do it.”
You are welcome, have fun!
Totally cherished the connecting with read on “Gee golly, Extraordinary Bundles of Scrap”! Your blog splendidly consolidates humor with eco-cognizance. Gratitude for transforming scrap into a magnificent story.
Thank you for reading it, I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Just curious, are they actually used for dryer balls or just a artsy project?
Just art 🙂